BATHURST
TRIVIA TIME SEEKING some drivers to fill your prospective qualifiers for the top-ten shootout? Eight drivers have an average qualifying position better than tenth at Bathurst in Championship races, namely: Anton de Pasquale (4.6), Shane van Gisbergen (6.6), Mark Winterbottom (8.1), Jamie Whincup (8.2), James Courtney (9.5), Chaz Mostert (9.8), and Cam Waters (9.9). On the all-time Supercars list, Scott McLaughlin tops the charts with an average starting position of 3.9. OF THE lead drivers, Mostert’s average Mount Panorama Championship race finishing position of 8.7 leads the way from van Gisvergen on 9.3 and Whincup on 9.7. Whincup led the way on 9.2 before last year’s faux pas. AFTER seven rookies were entered last year, Zak Best will be assured Rookie of the Year honours when he lines up alongside Jack Le Brocq in the Truck Assist Mustang as the sole first time starter in the field. THERE are five drivers not returning this year, namely Jordan Boys, Rick Kelly (retired), Scott McLaughlin (Indycar), Tyler Everingham and Steve Owen. Taking their place will be Russell Ingall, David Wall, Matt Campbell, Luke Youlden and Best.
2009 - David Wall & Leanne Tander with Wilson Security Racing PCR Ford A TOTAL of 25 cars are set to feature on the starting grid, the equal lowest of all time with 2014 and last year. THE infamous 2014 race featured ten safety car appearances, equal with 2006 and 1999, although smashed by the 13 appearances in 2000. The most laps under the safety car in a race was 2006 with 36, primarily due to Paul Radisich’s awful shunt at The Chase. Meanwhile, 2013 and 2018 featured six laps of Safety Car activity each, with two and three interruptions respectively. Last year there were five cautions for ten laps. WILL this be the first Bathurst 1000 to break the Six Hour barrier? Since the race extended from 500 miles (805km) to 1000km in 1973, it took until 1977 for the seven-hour mark to be bettered, which was achieved by Allan Moffat/Jacky Ickx with a time of 6hr, 59min 7.8sec. The race record belongs to Craig Lowndes/Steve Richards in 2018 with a time of 6hr 1min 44,5456sec, while the longest recorded race was 2014, with Mostert/Morris winning with a time of 7hr 58min 53.2052sec, which dragged on due to a mid-race red flag.
OVER the past 20 years, the race winner has started on the front row eight times. Of course, Mostert/Morris put in a big burn from the stern to win in 2014 from 25th on the grid. Still, there have been some other sizable drives through the field on race day in recent times: Davison/Webb started 17th in 2016 to win, a year before Lowndes/ Richards were victorious from 15th, the same position as Bright/Richards in 2008. Last year, van Gisbergen/Garth Tander won from fourth.
2009 - Fabian Coulthard & Michael Patrizi with Wilson Security Racing PCR Ford 22 /
